BRDP

15th March 2008

Press Release

Whale and Dolphin Charity "Marinelife" Expands Its Research

‘Marinelife’ will be expanding its essential research covering whales, dolphins and oceanic bird life in collaboration with Brittany Ferries Freight and their new ship Cotentin on the Poole to Santander route.

To facilitate this ‘Marinelife’, a European marine conservation research charity, is being supported by The Haven Hotel at Sandbanks, Poole, to run a land-based training session, in scientific marine mammal and seabird monitoring methods on 6th April 2008.

The world’s oceans are facing an ever increasing number of threats, from pollution, global warming, shipping traffic, accidental death in fishing nets and depletion of fish stocks as a result of over fishing, to name but a few. As the top predators of the oceans, whales, dolphins and seabirds are amongst the most at risk from these threats and often act as an early indicator of the health of the seas around us. Volunteers can play a crucial role in helping collect scientific data on their current status.

‘Marinelife’ has been monitoring whales, dolphins, seabirds and other marine life in the English Channel and European Atlantic continuously for thirteen years through one of its main projects, the Biscay Dolphin Research Programme. The surveys are chiefly conducted from passenger ferries (known as ‘ships of opportunity’) travelling the same routes year round. ‘Marinelife’ currently operates ongoing research on routes departing from both Portsmouth and Plymouth. The new route from Poole provides an opportunity to survey more of the English Channel and further west in the Bay of Biscay and additional suitably experienced volunteer surveyors are needed to carry out this exciting survey.

Clive Martin, ‘Marinelife’ Director, Chairman and Senior Wildlife Officer, said “We are very grateful to The Haven Hotel for their support in helping us to run our training session. We are also delighted that Brittany Ferries Freight has entered into this collaboration with us on their vessel Cotentin”.

Data from long-term surveys helps provide an ongoing assessment of changes in the status of whale, dolphin and seabird populations and their behaviour within the survey areas. They also highlight threats the wildlife face over time. This exciting new route, from Poole to Santander, broadens the survey area that the Biscay Dolphin Research Programme has been working in since 1995 and adds to an existing collaboration with Brittany Ferries on the Plymouth to Roscoff service.

Dr Tom Brereton, ‘Marinelife’ Director and Chief Scientific Officer, said “This new route will be a vital opportunity to fill gaps in our knowledge of these key indicator species of the marine environment”.

Julian Lee of Brittany Ferries Freight and Sue Hyder of F.J.B. Hotels said “We are delighted to support ‘Marinelife’ with this important conservation initiative”.

The introductory training event is open to people from all over the Dorset, west Hampshire, Devon, Wiltshire and Somerset region with relevant experience of wildlife observation, particularly with cetaceans and ocean-going birds, who are interested in becoming volunteer trainee researchers with ‘Marinelife’. It will provide an introduction to cetacean and seabird survey techniques and protocols, as well as an opportunity for networking with other ‘Marinelife’ personnel. This will be followed up with more rigorous scientific training at sea under the guidance of experienced team leaders. Expert training ensures that all data collected during ongoing ‘Marinelife’ research projects is of the same rigorous quality and continues to be at the forefront of current scientific best practice.

Anyone with the relevant experience wishing to join the training event on Sunday 6th April 2008 is invited to contact John Arnott, Research & Funding Support Officer, for further details and booking information. There is a nominal booking charge of £5 per person, payable in advance. John can be contacted at john.arnott@biscay-dolphin.org.uk.

For further information on ‘Marinelife’ please contact Adrian Shephard, Public Relations & Publicity Officer, at adrian.shephard@marine-life.org.uk or visit the website at www.marine-life.org.uk.

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Notes for editors:

1. ‘Marinelife’ is a charitable scientific organisation (Registered Charity: 1110884), which researches the behaviour, distribution and abundance of whales and dolphins, and of other marine life in the English Channel and beyond.

‘Marinelife’ is supported by a team of volunteer researchers and operates from commercial ferries to facilitate its ongoing research work. The research and education roles of ‘Marinelife’ assist in the conservation of these sea mammals.

2. The Biscay Dolphin Research Programme is an important project under ‘Marinelife’, which has been investigating the marine mammal and seabird life of the English Channel and Bay of Biscay for the last 13 years.

3. Further details about the research of ‘Marinelife’ can be found at www.marine-life.org.uk. The ‘Marinelife’ Directors are Clive Martin, Senior Wildlife Officer and Chairman and Dr Tom Brereton, Chief Scientific Officer.

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